Randall White

Randall White is a Professor of Anthropology at New York University (NYU), specializing in Paleolithic archaeology with a focus on European prehistoric art and hunter-gatherer technologies. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto (1980) and a B.A. from the University of Alberta (1976). His research emphasizes the Aurignacian period, particularly the emergence of symbolic expression through art and material culture in France and Western Europe.

Dr. White is affiliated with the Center for the Study of Human Origins (CSHO) at NYU and directs the CNRS-NYU Center for International Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences (CIRHUS). He also serves as a Chercheur associé at the TRACES laboratory in Toulouse. His work integrates field archaeology, laboratory analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration to explore questions of human cognition and cultural evolution.

Key research themes include Aurignacian graphic arts, the technological innovation of early modern humans, and the application of dating methods like uranium-series analysis to prehistoric artifacts. Recent projects focus on sites such as Abri Blanchard, Abri Castanet, and the Vézère Valley, where he has documented some of the earliest known examples of Paleolithic art and symbolic behavior.

His publications span over four decades, addressing topics such as mammoth ivory procurement strategies, the social contexts of personal ornaments, and the material construction of identity. White’s international collaborations and leadership in major archaeological projects underscore his role as a pivotal figure in Paleolithic studies.